Portable reversible screen construction



June 5, 1945. HECK- ETAL 2,377,553

PORTABLE REVERSIBLE SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 23, 1943 2 Sheets- Sheet l June 5, 5- J. T. HECK ETAL 2,377,553

I PORTABLE REVERSIBLE SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 23, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 5, 1945 PORTABLE REVERSIBLE SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Y John T. Heck, Elmhurst, and Leo J. Du Mais,

Chicago, 111., assignors to Da-Lite Screen Coinpany, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of .1111- nois Application August 23, 1942, Serial No. 499,594

' Claims. (Cl. 160-24) The present invention relates to an improved portable screen, and is more particularly directed to a collapsible type of structure wherein the screen web is carried upon a suitable reel within a case that is detachably mounted on the structure to expose either surface of the screen web for use.

The Structure supporting the screen web is provided with a collapsible tripod of the inverted type so as to bring its supporting legs substantially parallel with the surface on which they rest, which enables the case to 'be positioned very low on the structure.

As this type of screen is in demand for background purposes, it is important that it should extend as close to the ground-line as possible, and also that it be adjustable to various heights to expose predetermined lengths of screen web.

The reversible feature makes it possible to expose opposite surfaces of the screen web, as for instance, they may be of different colors, have scenic views for photographic purposes, or the screen web may have different finishes on each surface on which pictures may be projected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible structure that is simple and strong in construction, light in weight, easily operated to open and collapse, and adjustable to various predetermined heights.

A further object is the provision of a screen structure having adetachable case provided with a screen web carried on a suitable reel therein whereby either surface of the screen web may be selectively exposed.

Another object is the provision of a; screen structure having a collapsible tripod of the inverted type for supporting the structure close to the surface on which the tripod is positioned.

A further object is the provision of a slidable mounting on the structure and with means on the mounting whereby the screen case may be detachably supported and retained for pivotal movements on the mounting during the setting-up or collapsing of the structure.

Other and further objects will become apparent from the ensuing description and claims.

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the structure embodying our invention, the parts being shown in collapsed position for portable purposes.

Figure 2 is a face View partially broken away showing the screen in open position for use.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail partial side ele-.

vation with some of. the parts broken away to how the operative structure.

Figure 4 is an enlarged partial detail side elevation, showing the case in reversed position.

Figure 5 is a view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on theline 6- -6 of Figure 5. i

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the centerband showing the case attaching studs thereon. i

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial detail. view in side elevation showing a modified form of fastening means for the case on the structure; and Figure 9 is an enlarged detail perspective: view of the centerband construction employed in the modified form showing the slot openings therein. The structure shown in the drawings is designed more particularly as a portable reversible screen construction for use as a background screen or as a screen on which pictures may be projected. The screen and structure are combined in a unit which, when not in use, can be collapsed to a relatively small size and in suitable form to be easily carried about, and which can be easily and readily set up foruse. When set up, the case may be bodily removed and replaced on the structure to expose the. selected surface of the screen web forwardly of the structure.

The structure is designated as a whole as It), and comprises a standard II which is preferably hollow and has a supporting tripod 12 secured at I3 to the lower end of the standard H. I The tripod I2 is of the inverted type which permits its legs I4 when opened, to lie substantially parallel to the surface on which they rest. The legs [4 are pivoted at I5 to a fitting l6 fixed at l3 to the standard I l, and substantially intermediate their lengths, the legs I l have a connecting arm ll pivoted thereto at l8 and with the upper ends of the arms pivoted at H! to a fitting 20 slidably mounted on the standard II. This fitting 20 has a spring lock i l (Fig. 2) secured therein and the plunger 22 of the lock is adapted to be brought into alignment with and to enter the opening 23 provided in the Standard H, when the tripod is in open position.

The standard H is provided at its upper end portion with a cap 24 that may be of suitable design, but which as shown, fits into the tubular standard and is secured in position by a spring x25 threaded therein at 25a and which has a plunger 26 that extends into the standard toenage an extension rod 21.

The extension rod 21 which is preferably square in cross-section, is guided through a square opening 24a provided in the cap 24, and the lower end of the rod 21 ha a rider 28 fixed thereto for guiding the rod within the tubular standard ll. Spaced an appreciable distance from the rider 28, the rod 2! has a stop screw 29 secured therein which is adapted to engage the cap 24 to limit the extreme upward movement of the rod out of the standard. At predetermined positions, the rod?! is provided with stop openings 30 which receive the plunger 24a of the spring lock 24 and retain the rod in fixed adjusted positions in the. standard II. at a right-angle to provide a forwardly directed projection 3| to which the free end of. the screen web i attached, and depending from this projection is a short stud 32 which engages the cap on the screen case, as will be later described.

The standard I! has a mounting 33 positioned thereon and free to slide the entire length thereof between the cap 24 and the top fitting 23 of the tripod. The mountin 33 is provided on its forward face 34 with a vertically disposed slot 35. which terminates into an enlarged opening 33 at its lower end and into a largeropening 31. at its upper end. The slot 35. and openings 36 and?! serve as meansfordetachably securing the screen case 33 to the mounting.

The case 38. is provided intermediate its length with a centerband 33 (Fig. 7) which has oppositely outwardly directed bosses 40-43 to each of which an outwardly directed stud M is secured. The studs 4,! are each provided with a flattened sided shank 4,2 and an enlarged head which cooperate with the. slot. 3.5-andopenings 3.5.and 31..

The case 3.8, is attached tothe mounting 33 by holding the case in a vertical position parallel withthe standard II and with one of the studs il aligned with the enlarged opening 31; which.

permits the head d3to enter therein and the flattened shank 42 to Slide downwardly in thevertical slot 3.5 into the opening 36,. At thisposition,

the case may be pivotally turned and its weight will retain it in. the opening 36. When thecase is turned to horizontal position (Fig. 2). thev flattened shank 42 will be positioned transversely. of the slot 35 (Fig. tonrevent the. accidental removal of thecase, as for instance,when the screen webis extended and; attached. to'theprojection 3| (F 3).

On each end, of the; case 331s a. cap. secured thereto by means of screws '15. and. these. caps serve as pivotal. centers. for a. spring. restorable reel 46 which has. a suitable length ofv screen web 61 mounted thereon with, its. inner edgelsecured at to the reel. The case has a. longitudinally extending slot opening &9; therein. through which the free end 47a of the web extends. and. which web is provided with a, transversely. extending slat tii which has a slat-pull or attaching means 50b secured centrally thereof .for attachment tov the projection 3| of the extension rod 21 .In ositioning or removing the. case. 33 from the mounting 33, it is only necessary to.turn the casevertically and raise it bodily av slightdistance. The turning movement of the case'aligns. the flattened shank 42 of" the. stud 4i with-the slot 35 andpermits it, to be moved upwardly into the opening 3? (Fig.5) which is large enough to permit, of the passage of the stud head 33 therethrough. To facilitate the-removal, or positioning of the case on the'mounting 33, the forward face 34 thereof is formed outwardly and downwardly at about centrally of the opening 3-l-which provides an off-set 34a which is justv sufiicient. to ali nthe shank 42 of the stud with the slot 35 The upper end of the rod isformed while the head of the stud is slidably resting on the forward face 3 of the mounting.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted the case is illustrated as being mounted in reversed position, that is, to expose different surfaces forwardly of the standard ll. When the case is mounted as shown in Fig. 3, the screen web is unwound rearwardly of its reel 16 while, as shown in Fig. 4, the screen is unwound forwardly of its reel and in order to maintain perfect vertical alignment of the screen web, two positions, namely 56 and 52 are provided in the projection 3! of rod 2?. The position 5| is engagedby the slat pull or attaching means 5% when the web is unwound from the inside of the reel, and position 52 is engaged whenthe web is unwound from the outside of the reel.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a centerband with a modified form of attachment for the case onto the mounting. In this instance, the case 38a has, a centerband 33a which is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slotopenings 5-3 which; are axially aligned and oppositely directed; Each of the slots 33 terminates into an enlarged opening 53*.

In this construction, the stud 55' isprovided with a flattened shank 55 which is permanently secured to the mounting 33a. and when the case 38a is held vertically and is positioned'onthej mounting, the slot 53 will slide on the flattened shank 5t ofthe stud 55 until the enlargedopening 54 engages the shank, and at which time, the case may be turned to lock the same onthe stud.

In either of the forms illustrated, the casemaybe removed and bodily turned to present either surface of the screen web forwardly of the standard. i

To collapse the structure for portable purposes, the screen web is released from the projection 31 of the extension and spring restoredin' the case, which is then turned to vertical position parallel with the standard. Then the plunger is of the spring lock 25 at 'thetop of thestandard is actuated to release the extension rod 2'! which is then free to drop into thestand ard' ll, and the depending stud 32 on the projection 3! of the rod will enter an opening 515 in the case cap it to lock the case parallel with the standard and. againstturningmovements. The tripod i2 is then collapsed byreleasingthe plung er 22 of the springlock 2i which permits thefit ting: 2(l-to slideup'wardly on the standard H and" carry the arms H to collapse the legs Hparallel with the standard. 7

The spring lock 58 is of the same construction as spring lock 25, and is secured inthe mountingf 33 withits plunger 59 spring-urged int-o'openi-ngs 63 provided in the standard H, These openings 36 are arranged at predetermined distances apart to lock the mounting 33-with thecase 38 at-different positions on the standard.

It is obvious that changes may be madednthe construction, operation and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we contemplate all such changes as fall within the scopeof the appended-elaims.

We claim: v

1'. In a portable reversible screen construction, the combination of a standard having supporting legs therefor, an extension telescoped wlth' said standard for adjustment of the height there- .of, means for lockingsaid extension in adjusted web and reel therein,lmea'ns for locking said mounting in adjusted positions on the standard, and means on said mounting and on opposite sides of the case coacting to pivotally and removably support the case on the mounting, said means on opposite sides of the case facilitating the reversal of the case on the mounting to expose either surface of the screen web forwardly on the standard.

2. In a portable reversible screen construction, the combination of a support having a standard secured thereto, an extension telescoped with the standard for adjustment of the height thereof, means for lockingsaid extension in adjusted positions on said standard, a case having a screen web and reel therein, a mounting slidably carried on the standard, means for locking said mounting in adjusted positions on the standard, and means on said mounting and case to pivotally support the case on said mounting, said lastmentioned means facilitating the removal of the case from the mounting to selectively position the case to expose either surface of screen web.

3. A collapsible stand construction comprising, a tubular standard having a support therefor, an extension, telescopable into said standardto raise and lower the height thereof, means for locking said extension at various heights on the standard, a mounting slidably carried on the standard, a case having a screen web and reel therein and being removably carried on the mounting, means for locking said mounting at different heights on the standard, said case having means on opposite sides thereof for attachment to said mounting to selectively expose either surface of screen web, and means on said extension for holding the free end of the screen web unwound from the reel.

4. A collapsible stand construction comprising, a tubular upright having supporting legs therefor, a member telescoping into said upright to raise and lower the height thereof, means for locking said telescoping member at various heights on said upright, a mounting slidably carried on said upright, a case having a screen web and reel therein and being detachably pivoted on said mounting, means for locking the mounting at different heights on the upright, and means associated with said telescoping member to which the web in adapted to be attached for maintaining a predetermined length of web unwound from the reel to selectively expose either surface of the screen web forwardly of the upright.

5. A screen stand structure for supporting a length of screen web to expose either surface thereof forwardly of the stand structure, comprising, a support, a mounting slidably carried turned to horizontal position.

6. In a portable reversible screen construction, the combination of a standard having supporting legs therefor, a screen web and reel therefor, an extension telescoped with said standard for adjustment of the height thereof, means for locking said extension in adjusted positions on the standard, a mounting for said reel slidably carried on the standard, said reel removable and reversible on said mounting, means for locking said mounting in adjusted positions on the standard, and means on said extension to which the web is adapted to be connected for maintaining a predetermined length of web unwound from the reel to selectively expose either surface of the screen web forwardly of the standard.

"7. Ina portable reversible screen construction, the combinationof a standard having supporting legs therefor, an extension telescoped with the standard for adjustment of the height thereof, a screen web and reel including a mounting therefor slidable on the standard, means for locking said extension in adjusted positions on said standard, means for locking the mounting in adjusted positions on the standard, said reel being removably and reversibly attached to said prising,

mounting, said reel being also turnable into vertical position parallel with the standard, and means on the reel cooperating with said extension for locking the reelin parallel relation with the standard.

8. A collapsible screen stand construction coma tubular standard having supporting legs therefor, an extension telescopable into said standard to raise and lower the height there taining the web in parallel relation with the standard and extension while either surface of the web is exposed for use.

9. A collapsible stand construction comprising, an upright having an extension telescoped therewith to raise and lower the height thereof,la projection at the upper end of said extension, a mounting slidably carried on said upright, a case having a screen web and reel therein and being detachably and reversibly pivoted on said mounting, and means on said pro- ,jection for attaching the free end of the screen web with the screen in parallel relation to the upright when either surface of the screen is exposed for use.

10. A portable reversible screen construction, comprising, a standard having supporting legs therefor, a screen web and reel, a mounting for said reel slidable on said standard, an extension for the standard for raising and lowering the height thereof, means on the extension for holding the free end of the screen web unwound from the reel, and pivotal means between said reel and mounting cooperating to removably attach the reel on the mounting to selectively expose either side of the screen web for use.

JOHN T. I-IEGK. LEO J. DU MAIS. 

